Jihadi John is finally unmasked: ISIS executioner is identified as former University of Westminster student from a respectable London family

• Computing graduate Mohammed Emwazi, 27, from Queen's Park, London
• Jihadi John has featured in ISIS videos with journalists and aid workers
• Scotland Yard refuses to confirm name and Downing St won't comment

The Islamic State executioner known as 'Jihadi John' was today identified as a university graduate from London.

Mohammed Emwazi, 27, of Queen’s Park, west London, who studied computer programming at the University of Westminster, is believed to have travelled to Syria in 2012 and later joined ISIS.

Jihadi John has featured in the execution videos of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, aid worker David Haines, 22 Syrian soldiers and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. 

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The ISIS executioner known as 'Jihadi John' has been identified as Mohammed Emwazi from west London

Mr Emwazi was said to have been raised in a middle-class family and occasionally prayed at a mosque in Greenwich, south-east London. 

One of Kuwait-born Mr Emwazi’s close friends identified him, telling a newspaper: ‘I have no doubt that Mohammed is Jihadi John. He was like a brother to me… I am sure it is him.’

And Asim Qureshi, research director a British human rights group Cage, who had been in contact with Mr Emwazi before he left for Syria, said he also believed the man was Jihadi John.

He told the Washington Post: ‘There was an extremely strong resemblance. This is making me feel fairly certain that this is the same person.'

According to the newspaper, in May 2009 Mr Emwazi flew to Tanzania with friends apparently on a safari - but was arrested by police upon landing in Dar es Salaam and sent back to Britain.

En route he stopped in Amsterdam, where he claimed to have been accused by an MI5 officer of trying to reach Somalia, home of the militant group Al Shabaab.

Jihadi John speaks in Sotloff and Foley beheading videos (audio)

The Washington Post reported Mr Emwazi then moved to his native Kuwait and worked in IT, but he was detained by counter-terrorism officials in June 2010 upon a return trip to London.

Detectives allegedly fingerprinted him and searched his belongings, and he was not allowed to fly back to Kuwait. He was put on a terror watchlist and not allowed to leave the country.

The FBI said last September that authorities had been trying to identify Jihadi John using various investigative techniques including voice analysis and interviews with former hostages. 

I have no doubt that Mohammed is Jihadi John. He was like a brother to me… I am sure it is him

Close friend of Mohammed Emwazi

Scotland Yard said it would not confirm the name, and Downing Street declined to comment on the reports. But David Cameron has repeatedly called for the infamous terrorist to be punished for his crimes.

In an interview with MailOnline last month, the Prime Minister revealed how he personally watched videos of the brutal beheadings of British hostages carried out by Jihadi John.

'These videos are absolutely horrific and depraved,' the Prime Minister said. 'And obviously I take the time to see what they are doing so I understand what families have been going through.'

Speaking in November, Mr Cameron said: ‘You should be in no doubt that I want Jihadi John to face justice for the appalling acts that have been carried out in Syria.’

Mr Emwazi’s most recent address was a flat in Leeve House, which is part of the Mozart Estate in Queen's Park - an area that has seen shootings and gang-related troubles in the past four years.

Horrifying: Jihadi John has featured in the execution videos of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, aid worker David Haines, 22 Syrian soldiers and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto (pictured)

In September, it was revealed Jihadi John was known to MI5 before he travelled to Syria to join Islamic States.

It was revealed security officials had identified him but his name and background were being kept secret to avoid jeopardising any hostage rescue missions.

Police and security agents said they also wanted to gather more information before raiding the homes of the fanatic’s family and friends.

There was an extremely strong resemblance. This is making me feel fairly certain that this is the same person 

Asim Qureshi, human rights group

Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary – a London rapper initially identified as a suspect – has been ruled out after analysis of his voice as well as his height and mannerisms.

The 23-year-old came to prominence last year after he posted a photograph of himself on Twitter holding up a severed head.

Other Britons from Portsmouth, Birmingham and Cardiff have been linked to John, who is said to have overseen the torture of hostages and to have led negotiations for French and Italian captives freed in return for ransoms.

It is claimed he was making street collections for genuine Arab charities based in London at the time he came to MI5’s attention.

There is no suggestion that MI5 or the police had any basis to stop him from travelling abroad.